Fan unit



May 17, 1938. J. c. GARROTT FAN UNIT Filed July 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT cries FAN UNIT John G. Garrott, Houston, Tex.

Application July 10, 1937, Serial No. 152,881

14 Claims. (01. 230-253) This invention relates to a fan unit and more particularly to a portable multiple fan unit in which fluid motor fans of the propeller type are mounted in a novel manner upon a supporting base.

In the drilling of oil wells in insect infested areas it is desirable, if not necessary, to provide portable fans that will serve the dual function of cooling the operators and blowing insects from the zones of operations. Fluid under pressure is available at the drilling rig and it is highly desirable that the fans used be provided with fluid actuated motors and that a plurality of fans be connected to the common source of energy and separately adjustable to direct air streams to any desired point or points on the derrick platform.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fan unit in which fluid actuated fans may be independently directed as desired about the derrick platform without in any way affecting their efficiency of operation.

A further object is to provide a multiple fan unit adapted to deliver a stream of air toward any particular object or objects.

A still further object is to provide a multiple fan unit embodying a frame upon which fluid actuated fans are independently mounted in a novel manner so that the air stream from the respective fans may be directed upon any desired object.

Another object is to provide a fluid actuated fan which is swivelly mounted upon a support with the intake and exhaust lines to the fluid motor coaxial with the axis of rotation of the motor upon its support.

Still another object is the provision of a fluid actuated fan, which is pivotally mounted upon its support, the intake and exhaust ports of the fluid motor being coaxial with the pivoting axis.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a fan unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 1 showing the fans adjusted to direct air streams in divergent directions.

Fig. 3 1s a sectional view through one of the fluid motors of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View through the fluid motor taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The fan unit comprising the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as comprising a frame or base I, upon which is mounted fan units 2 and 3, each of which is swivelly mounted upon the base I so that the impeller mounted upon the motor shaft and within the fan shield 4 may be directed I to send an air stream upon any desired object.

A frame 1 comprises base members or skids which are secured to support members II and I2 by means of upright'members l3, i4, and 15. The respective members of the frame I are se- 10 cured into a composite unit by any suitable means as by welding or bolts.

Each of the fans 2 and 3 comprises a fluid motor 16 rotatably supported upon the framework formed by members H and I2 about a vertical axis in a manner that will be later described. The casing of each of the fluid motors 2 and 3 serves as a support for protective shield 4 within which rotates the propeller driven by the motor. Inlet and exhaust pipes 20 and 2! for each of the fluid motors extend outwardly from the casing and are in line with the axis of rotation of the motor upon its support. Inlet pipes 20 are connected to an inlet manifold 22 through unions 23 while outlet or exhaust pipes 2| are similarly con- 25 nected through unions 24 to an exhaust manifold I9.

From this brief description of the fan unit of the invention it may be seen that the invention provides a portable fan unit having a plurality of fans that may be directed upon single objects, or the fans may be each directed upon a separate object, and that the construction is such that no material alterations of the fluid pressure lines need be made in order to direct the respective fans as desired. The specific construction whereby the desired objectives are obtained will now be described.

As best illustrated in Fig. 4, the supporting framework is provided at opposite ends with a downwardly extending bearing member 25, which may be integral with the supporting structure. Flanges 25 on the bearing member 25 are adapted to engage portions of the supporting framework so that the bearing member may be secured theresecure the boss to the motor casing. The lower portion of bearing member 25 is provided with outwardly extending ear 35, which is slotted radially of the bearing member and a bolt 36 passes transversely through the slotted ear. The adjacent bore of the bearing member 25 is of such diameter that boss 32 may be locked therein by tightening bolt 36. On the other hand, by loosening this bolt this boss 32 and the motor casing connected thereto may be freely rotated about the axis of the bore 30.

Fluid motor I6 of the present invention has a circular casing 29 comprising complemental sections 4!] and 4|, which, as shown in Fig. 5, have annular insert shoulders 42 so that when in assembled relation the complemental parts are in accurate mating relation. Sections 40 and 4| are held securely in this mating relation to form a composite casing 29 by means of transverse bolts 43.

Each of the sections 40 and 4| flares outwardly from a medial line through the casing and has a flange 44 at its outer end. An inwardly converging wall 45 on each of the casing sections provides in the composite casing a chamber in which the motor runner is adapted to rotate. Intermediate wall 45 and flange 44 is a transverse wall 46 provided with central openings 41 to receive anti-friction bearings 48 in which the shaft 49 is adapted to rotate. Runner 5!) is fixed upon shaft 49 and comprises a hub 5! and a radial flange 52 which supports buckets 53 thereon.

A suitable fluid seal 54 is provided between hub 55 and the inner flanged ends 55 of Walls 45. This seal serves to prevent leakage of the operating fluid from within the runner chamber to the chamber formed by walls 45 and transverse Walls 46.

Cap plates 55 and GI are secured to flanges 44 by means of cap screws 62, the latter of these plates having a central opening 63 to pass an extension 54 on shaft 49 for mounting of the fan propeller within the fan shield 4.

An opening 15 at the top of the motor casing 29 is provided with a closure member 1i secured thereto by cap screws 12. This closure member H has a threaded opening 13 coaxial With the bore in boss 32 and leading intoa passageway 74 in nozzle 15, which is made integral with the closure member TI. The runner 50 is driven by an actuating fluid such as steam, or other fluid under pressure, by being directed through the nozzle 15 whence it impinges upon the buckets 53 on runner 50. A portion of the energy of the fluid is thus converted into mechanical energy. In order to abstract a greater portion of the energy from the actuating fluid, a fluid guiding unit 11 is attached to the side wall of the casing 29 and is adapted to redirect the fluid through buckets 53 before the fluid is exhausted into the annular space 78 about the runner. The cylindrical bore 3'! in boss 32 provides a passageway from the annular space 18 within the motor casing 29 and hence serves as an exhaust port for the actuating fluid from which energy has been abstracted during passage through the runner 50.

Inlet and outlet pipes 2!] and 2!, respectively, are coaxial and are threadably secured in closure member ii and in boss 32 respectively. One end 82 of the nut unions 23 and 24 is threadably secured to the outwardly extending ends of the pipes 20 and 2|. The other end of each of these unions is attached to an end of the inlet or exhaust manifold 22 or l9, and the flow conne-ction between parts is completed by tightening nut 83 on each of the unions.

In the operation of the device just described steam or other actuating fluid is introduced through manifold 22 to the nozzle 15, which directs flow upon the buckets of runner 50 whereby rotation is imparted thereto. After passing through the buckets 53 the actuating fluid is deflected in the guiding unit TI and thence passes outwardly through buckets 53 and into the annular space 18. The exhaust fluid passes from the annular space 18 within the casing 19 through the exhaust manifold l9. The respective motors are thus actuated to drive the impellers within their respective shields 4 whereby the desired functioning of the device accrues. Valves iii are provided in the fluid passageways whereby either of the fans of the unit may be operated independently or the fans may be operated simultaneously and at different speeds. Attention is also directed to the fact that with the described construction the exhausted fluid leaves the motor casing 29 at the lower end thereof whereby any condensate from the actuating fluid is immediately removed from within the motor casing.

If it is desired to alter the position of either of the fans of the unit the nuts upon unions 23 and 24 are loosened, together with bolt 36 in bearing member 25, whereupon the motor and its associated fan may be rotated about an axis that is common to the bearing member 25, pipes 20 and 2| and unions 23 and 24. When the desired position of the fluid motor is obtained it is then only necessary to tighten the unions and bolt 36 to again place the fan in operation.

From the foregoing description of the construction and mode of operation of the device of the invention it is believed apparent that the indicated objects of the invention are realized. While the specific embodiment has been disclosed, it is to be understood that various changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is desired that the disclosure be construed as illustrative only, the invention being limited only in scope by the appended claims as viewed in the light of the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a vertical bearing member at each end of said support, a fluid motor casing pivotally mounted in each of said bearing members about axes transversely of the motor shafts, means for looking said motor casings against rotation Within said bearing members, fluid inlet and outlet pipes extending outwardly from each of said casings and coaxial with its bearing member, an intake fluid manifold extending between said inlet pipes, an outlet fluid manifold extending between said outlet pipes, and rotatable connections between said manifolds and said pipes so constructed and arranged that said motor casings may be rotatably positioned upon said support.

2. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at each end of said support, said axis being transverse to the motor shaft, means for locking each of said fluid motors against rotation about its vertical axis, a fluid inlet pipe extending upwardly from each of said motors, a fluid outlet pipe extending downwardly from each of said motors, the axis of said inlet pipe and said outlet pipe for each motor being coincident with the vertical axis through the motor, an inlet manifold between said inlet pipes, an outlet manifold between said outlet pipes and coaxial connections between said manifolds and said pipes.

3. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted at each end of said support for rotation about a vertical axis transversely of the motor shaft, means for looking each of said fluid motors against rotation about its vertical axis, a fluid inlet pipe and a fluid outlet pipe extending outwardly from each motor and coaxial with said vertical axis, inlet and outlet manifolds extending respectively between said inlet pipes and said outlet pipes, and coaxial connections between said pipes and said manifolds.

4. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted at each end of said support for rotation about a fluid inlet pipe and a fluid outlet pipe extending outwardly from each motor transverse to the motor shaft and coaxial with the axis of said pipes, inlet and outlet manifolds extending respectively between said inlet pipes and said outlet pipes, and coaxial connections between said pipes and said manifolds.

5. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a

fluid motor pivotally mounted at each end of said support for rotation about an axis transverse to the motor shaft, a fluid inlet pipe and a fluid outlet pipe extending outwardly from each motor and coaxial with said axis of rotation, inlet and outlet manifolds extending respectively between said inlet pipes and said outlet pipes, and coaxial connections between said pipes and said manifolds.

6. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a vertical bearing member at each end of said support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted in each of said bearing members about an axis transverse to the motor shaft, means for locking each of said fluid motors against rotation within its bearing member, coaxial inlet and outlet pipes extending outwardly from each of said fluid motors, and a rotatable connection between each of said inlet pipes and a source of fluid pressure.

'7. A portable fan unit comprising a support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at each end of said support, said axis being transverse to the motor shaft, means for locking each of said fluid motors against rotation about its vertical axis, inlet and outlet ports for each of said motors, each of said inlet ports being coaxial with said vertical axis, a fluid manifold extending between said inlet ports, a fluid connection between said manifold and each of said inlet ports, and valves in the inlet line for controlling the flow of actuating fluid to each of the motors.

8. In a portable fan unit a support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at each end of said support, said axis being transverse to the motor shaft, inlet and outlet ports for each of said motors, each of said inlet ports being coaxial with said vertical axis, a fluid manifold extending between said inlet ports, and a fluid connection between said manifold and each of said inlet ports.

9. In a portable fan a support, a bearing member at each end of said support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted for rotation in each of said bearing members about an axis transverse to the motor shaft, means for locking each of said fluid motors against rotation within its bearing member, inlet and outlet ports for each of said motors, a fluid manifold extending between said inlet ports, and a rotatable connection between said manifold and each of said inlet ports.

10. In a fan unit in combination, a support, a vertical bearing member on said support, a fluid motor casing pivotally mounted in said bearing about an axis transverse to'the motor shaft, means for locking said casing against rotation in the bearing, inlet and outlet ports in said casing coaxial with said bearing, and coaxial connections for joining the inlet port and exhaust port with pressure and exhaust lines respectively.

11. In a fan unit in combination, a support, a vertical bearing member on said support, a fluid motor casing pivotally mounted in said bearing about an axis transverse to the motor shaft, inlet and outlet ports in said casing coaxial with said bearing, and coaxial connections for joining the inlet port and exhaust port with pressure and exhaust lines respectively.

12. In a portable fan unit, a support, a fluid motor pivotally mounted upon said support for rotation about a vertical axis transverse to the motor shaft, means for locking said motor against rotation about said axis, fluid inlet and outlet pipes extending diametrically from said motor and concentric with said axis, and coaxial con- 1 nectors joining said inlet and outlet pipes with pressure and exhaust lines respectively.

13. In a portable fan unit, a support, a vertical bearing member on said support, a fluid motor having a fan thereon, a tubular projection on the casing of said motor extending into said bearing member, so constructed and arranged that the motor is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis transverse to the axis of the fan, means for anchoring said projection against rotation within said bearing, vertically extending inlet and outlet pipes on the casing of said motor, one of said pipes passing through said tubular projection, and coaxial connectors joining the inlet pipe and outlet pipe with pressure and exhaust lines respectively.

14. In a portable fan unit, a support, a vertical bearing member on said support, a fluid motor having a fan thereon, a tubular projection on the casing of said motor extending into said bearing member, so construced and arranged that the motor is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, vertically extending inlet and outlet pipes on the casing of said motor, one of said pipes passing through said tubular projection, and coaxial connectors joining the inlet pipe and outlet pipe with pressure and exhaust lines respectively.

JOHN C. GARROT'I. 

